The Benefits of Can Crushers
Are you looking to "green up" your household? Do you think recycling is a good idea, but don't have the space to store all those old cans? A can crusher may be just the thing for your kitchen or garage.
Because storing cans for recycling can be very space-consuming, a can crusher - which smashes empty cans to the size of a small pancake - is a necessary and helpful appliance for just about any household. Almost ten times as many crushed cans can be stored in the same space as uncrushed cans, making recycling much more space efficient.
Can crushers come in many sizes and shapes, and different styles can be used for crushing anything from soda cans to heavier food-storage cans. Some can crushers even come with a built-in storage bin for easier recycling. Most (particularly those without built-on storage bins) are wall-mountable, which makes them adaptable to even small spaces. There are even "automatic feed" can crushers, which allows you to load multiple cans for crushing and then automatically ejects them after they are crushed.
What Kitchen Supplies to Buy
There are many major chain stores, websites, catalogs, and even magazines that would like to convince the average consumer that her kitchen is not complete until it houses everything from four sizes of melon-ballers to precious-metal baking racks. There are so many different kitchen supplies such as appliances, gadgets, pots, pans, and cutlery that the options are overwhelming.
Stocking the kitchen, however, doesn't have to be a daunting experience. The following list details the "essentials" kitchen supplies for any kitchen, and is useful to everyone from new college grads to newlyweds to someone looking to “start over†and get back to basics.
Cookware (stainless steel with copper bottom is best):
- 1-, 2-, and 4-quart saucepans
- 8-quart stockpot
- 8- and 14- inch skillets
- Roasting pan
- Ridged grill pan
- Knives
- 8- or 10-inch chef's knife
- 3- or 4-inch paring knife
- Serrated knife
- Set of steak knives
Bakeware:
- Oven-proof casserole dish with lid
- Two nine-inch cake pans and a pie pan
- Two cookie sheets
- Rectangular baking pan
- Loaf pan
- Muffin tin
- Cooling rack(s)
- Assorted mixing bowls
- Measuring spoons and cups
Appliances:
- Microwave
- Coffee maker
- Blender
- Hand-held or stand mixer
- Toaster
Gadgets:
- Colander
- Grater
- Wooden spoons
- Slotted spoons
- Tongs
- Vegetable peeler
- Whisk
- Sifter
- Soup ladle
- Corkscrew
- Spatulas
- Can opener
- Cutting board
Different Uses for Plate Hangers
Many people have beautiful china they've inherited from family members, bought at estate sales, or even bought as collectibles. However, these same people may also find these heirlooms or collectibles doing nothing but sitting in an attic or collecting dust on a shelf.
Plate hangers or plate stands are a decorative solution to the question of what to do with collectible or antique china. By using a plate hanger or stand, just about any piece of china can be rescued from the attic and put on display for everyone to enjoy. Plate hangers can be wall mounted and used to display platters, plates, saucers, butter pats, and even cups and saucers.
Plate hangers are available at home decorating/appliance stores, big-box stores, or online, and come in a variety of styles. Some hangers, like ones made from wrought-iron, are meant to be enjoyed alongside the plate itself; others, like slim wire hangers, are meant to showcase only the piece being hung.
Hanging plates is not only an efficient and attractive way to store your collectibles, but also a fashionable way to decorate your home. For both fashion and storage, don't limit plate hangers to hanging just plates; use them for hanging dish cloths, pictures, or other favorite mementos.
The Evolution of Toilet Seats
Possibly one of the most overlooked aspects when decorating a bathroom is the toilet seat. Most people don't think too long or hard about what kind of toilet seat to buy -- they will just pick up a standard white model that fits their toilet bowl and be done with it.
However, the days of ignoring toilet seats may be at an end. With the pervasiveness of Internet stores, consumers are no longer bound to the simple models found at the local discount or hardware store.
Indeed, toilet seats have come a long way. There are hand-painted, designer toilet seats available that showcase everything from aquatic themes to African designs to floral motifs; there are wood toilet seats; denim-look seats; pop-art seats, and of course seats in multiple solid colors.
For those people looking for practicality over looks, there are self-closing toilet seats that close each time the toilet is flushed; seats with hinges that allow the seat to be easily twisted off for cleaning; and seats that come in acrylic, resin, or padded plastic. There are even reinforced toilet seats for larger consumers or senior citizens.
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